Thermalright XP-120

**-=TriX=-** · 08-08-2004, 08:17 PM

nah, user error.

I must have seated the CPU incorrectly before putting the HSF on..that or maybe something was in one of the socket holes.

The thing is a b***h to fit on any mb though. I had to install my rear 120mm case fan on the outsdie and remove the PSU from the case to get it to fit. It did clear the capacitors and everything on my board though. But, the socket orientation on the Epox 4PCA3+ is not monstrous HSF freindly. I am thinking of getting a new case as well.

I am installing it in:

Epox 4PCA3 Mobo
Antec Super LANboy Case

**=[PULSAR]=** · 08-08-2004, 08:32 PM

I bent some leads of my of cpu too had to straighten them myself.

**GreyBeard** · 08-09-2004, 06:08 AM

I am planning to get the Sonata case. I will go check the dimensions again as it also does the 120mm rear fan.

If anyone has tried the XP-120 on a A64 board, how close to the top and back edges does it get?

**=[PULSAR]=** · 08-09-2004, 07:51 AM

I have a abit kv8 pro and the heatsink does reach the top of the board but its difficult to fit ram and there is enough clearance to the back fans.

**=[PULSAR]=** · 08-20-2004, 06:36 AM

Just posting my images again because the other links are dead.

Hope this links stay working.

**MUCHO** · 08-21-2004, 06:34 AM

Wow. Its a work of art!

Nice temps and overclock for air!

**=[PULSAR]=** · 08-21-2004, 06:38 AM

My overclock is a little higher now, I can game stable at 2.67ghz, i think the chipset cooling is holding me back and I will find out soon enough.

**Jasonxxx** · 08-21-2004, 11:37 AM

Do you think it will fit on a A64 with the IHS removed?

**=[PULSAR]=** · 08-21-2004, 11:57 AM

I dont know I think you would have contact issues because the XP-120 has a flat bottom its not like some other heatsinks that have raised die spot on the bottom so probuably not.

**Jasonxxx** · 08-21-2004, 08:41 PM

The above pic's look like the sink sits on the bracket?

**=[PULSAR]=** · 08-22-2004, 05:11 AM

No, its clicked in just a pain in the a** because of the DIMM sockets.

**JJMAN** · 09-02-2004, 12:16 PM

Howdy folks. I did a temperature review of this heatsink with and without a fan, idle and full load temps.
You can check it out here. (NO BANNERS OR ADS)

www.jjman.org

I will say that Thermalright is the owntage.

I hope this review will help someone decide to use this or not to use this. It is very large and might hinder your choice depending on space and motherboard layout.

=Pulsar= Could you give me details on your o/c and confirm what mb you have?

I'm having a hek of a time overclocking this 3400+ 1meg cache cpu and would like some more imput if you wouldnt mind anyway.
Thanks in advance.

JJMAN

**drunkenmaster** · 09-03-2004, 09:54 AM

hey pulsar, i just got same sink and installed on board today and found exactly the same thing, couldn't run 2 sticks ram, pain in the ass to install. Temps are "supposedly" awful, 52C and up at load, venus 12 was at 58 or so. But both of those(2800+) are much higher than the previous 3200-3400+'s at MUCH higher overclocks and voltage so figure it just doesn't read certain chips right.

Either way, i can't in any way see this fitting on my giga 939 board(even worse crap with the dps around the socket), which is what i was gonna take to uni with me and ditch the watercooling. Doesn't fit my k8n-pro gigabyte either. Badly designed as the heatpipes really could be curved tighter to the main body to prevent problems. COuld also start the rise earlier.

Heck, it would be a decent heatsink if it had heatpipes just going up through the sink , its the small base and extended sink above the height of components that are teh good parts of the design, no pipes would still make it a good sink, a none copper baseplate is quite ridiculous though, a LOT of sinks are more than 370grams, another 100 here or there would not be an issue at all. almost impossible to install too, had to click one side in at such an angle that when pusing it down onto the sink it would always push the as5 around too much and puts a lot of pressure on one edge of the cpu.

Personally wouldn't reccommend you buy untill there is a decent compatibility list put up somewhere.

**-=TriX=-** · 09-03-2004, 10:17 PM

I thought it did have a copper base plate. It said it had a nickel-plated copper base. :???:

**=[PULSAR]=** · 09-04-2004, 07:17 AM

JJMan I have a 3000+ NC core that I can bench currently @ 2.68Ghz, 2.65Ghz gaming stable. I am using a Abit KV8 Pro which gives me the option of 1.85vcore which helps a bit. I recon your problem is that your 3400+ is the CH core, cause of the 1MB of cache so the OC's on those cores are limited, what are you getting? Probuably around 2.45Ghz?

Drunkenmaster what kind of fan are you using on the heatsink, I have a 93cfm one. Are those temps with the OC cause with my overclock at 1.85vcore the temps are roughly 60C load, I think my idle temps are a little lower around 40C. Sorry cant check for ya my board is being RMA'd should be here Wednesday.

**trans am** · 09-05-2004, 03:39 PM

Originally posted by Jasonxxx
Do you think it will fit on a A64 with the IHS removed?

I am wondering the same. Could you take the mobo bracket off and go right through? I did my water block like this and it works fine on the mobile. But how can you screw it in? It looks like the screws are blocked by that huge sucker.

**=[PULSAR]=** · 09-06-2004, 11:39 AM

I have tried putting the heatsink on a A64 with a removed IHS and results were not good I was gettin 90C in BIOS because of poor contact. You also can not mount directly thru the motherboard because the use of the socket 478 bracket is needed. Looks like we have to stick with the IHS and some good thermal compound.

**trans am** · 09-06-2004, 02:46 PM

Originally posted by =[PULSAR]=
I have tried putting the heatsink on a A64 with a removed IHS and results were not good I was gettin 90C in BIOS because of poor contact. You also can not mount directly thru the motherboard because the use of the socket 478 bracket is needed. Looks like we have to stick with the IHS and some good thermal compound.

or the slk948u

**rastaseb** · 09-14-2004, 02:36 PM

not very satisfied about the xp 120! so boring to install and thems aren't better than sp94 (personnal opinion)..
excuse my pretty english

**dav** · 09-16-2004, 08:42 AM

Just got my XP-120 lately, done a simple enough temperature testing...

A64 3500+ @ 2365MHz @ 1.5V
Asus A8V Deluxe Rev 2.0
Thermalright XP-120 + thermal paste
Sanyo 120mmx120mmx38mm 102CFM fan
Antec Super Lanboy (120mm fan x 2)

room temperature ~29C

(case opened)
idle 42C
(case closed)
(p95 started)
full load 58C
(p95 stopped)
after 30 secs 53C
after 60 secs 51C
after 150 secs 50C
after 240 secs 49C
(case opened)
after 270 secs 47C
after 300 secs 46C
after 360 secs 45C
after 450 secs 44C
after 540 secs 43C
after 570 secs 42C

Seems not doing well with just about -8C from stock HSF.
Perhaps it's becoz I do not have AS5...

**saaya** · 09-16-2004, 06:33 PM

welcome to XtremeSystems JJMAN, rastaseb and dav!

btw, the link doesnt work JJMAN

thx for posting results dav!

im really confused here... wasnt this heatsink supposed to be an ultimate performer? the temps are not bad... but not good at all either. load temps in the 50s and 60s are not good at all, especially if you think of the huuuge size.

**dav** · 09-16-2004, 07:27 PM

hi saaya!

i think it is really due to the fact that my room is initially hot...
when I turned on the air-conditioner, the full load at 2.5G@1.6V is around 50C..... much better.

BTW, I do not have AS5... not sure if it matters. :-)

**JJMAN** · 09-17-2004, 09:52 AM

Originally Posted by saaya

welcome to XtremeSystems JJMAN, rastaseb and dav!

btw, the link doesnt work JJMAN

thx for posting results dav!

im really confused here... wasnt this heatsink supposed to be an ultimate performer? the temps are not bad... but not good at all either. load temps in the 50s and 60s are not good at all, especially if you think of the huuuge size.

Howdy and thanks for the welcome.

uhmm I clicked the link and she seemed to work. you can just go to www.jjman.org and itll be the first news post on there.

NO ads/banners/promos/money/hacks/binds/charities or anything of that nature on my site :P

Let me know if it doesnt work for you again and maybe we can figure somethen out on er.

JJMAN

P.S. and off topic - Did this site get hacked? I wasnt able to look at it for several days then I got a rude email from this addy. I figured since I got that email and the page was down that someone boinked it. But I dont know. Anyone hear anything?

**CrazyXP1700** · 09-17-2004, 10:09 AM

i've found if you grind down the base of the plastic bit that holds the heatsink to the mobo...

if you remove it and grind down the legs just a little bit... it helps bring the heatsink closer to the CPU... to make up the difference of the IHS being gone... dont take off too much because then it will make it even harder to put the clip on

just make sure you take off the same amount on all the corners.. otherwise you get a heatsink not making full contact

that and i couldn't use the original plugs that were on the mobo already... so i had to use nylon screws from my videocard projects... but whatever works right

i wish i had pics... but i dont